Especially when these students are dealing with personal issues, puberty, phones (cell), peer pressure, parties, and parents (I think I just made up a cool list of things that start with the letter P).

Easy. Go back to my original thought of blind luck.

If you aren’t abnormally lucky, I have another suggestion.

Student population in regards to discipline can be broken down to the 33/33/33 Rule.

33% of the students will always do the right thing. Good kids with good parents (the ones that want to know immediately if their child is causing trouble… and of course they never do).

You will often find these students in the library, at a student council meeting, or volunteering.

These kids don’t need a principal. If fact, you could give them your keys to the building and they could start the school day without you. This is good to know if you are ever running late.

Teachers love these students. Consequently, as the principal you will never see them.

Ever.

They don’t need you. Unless they need a letter of recommendation.

The second group of 33% belongs to kids who want to do the right thing, but they could go either way.

You will see them… in the hallways, the parking lot, and occasionally in your office.

They will be on the fringe of both good behavior and bad.

If they do make their way to your office, it is usually just once a year. Most of their troubles are dealt with by the teachers.

Talking and tardies are their big crimes.

As long as these small issues are addressed, quickly and fairly, these students will do the right thing.

Each one has bulletin boards covered with faded construction paper, a colored pencil or crayon laying in the hallway, copiers that are jammed, horseplay in the restrooms, and at least one staff member who can tell you the exact days, hours, minutes and seconds until the end of the school year.

The best part is that you never have to ask them about the countdown. They tell you as they walk by in the hallway.

I can remember doing this. My system was slightly more low-key.

I checked off the days on a school calendar that was taped inside my grade book.

Do teachers still have grade books? And if so, why? But, I digress. Again.

Checking off the days gave me a sense of accomplishment. At the time, I thought keeping track made the year go by faster.

It was even more special when I forgot to do this for a few days. Then I got to put X’s through 3 or 4 days at once.

Weekends were an added bonus.

I felt like I had just won a prize. The more X’s the better.

But the X’s always had to be in the same color. In retrospect, I have come to realize that I might have some control issues… or a disorder.

Hard to tell. But in my youth, chewing on paint chips was probably not the best plan.

Checking off the days probably made the end of school go slower.

Now that I work (and remember everyone’s definition of work is different, so don’t judge) 12 months a year, I never worry about the end of school.

It doesn’t even cross my mind. Maybe that is because I am so focused on the job at hand.

I am locked in. Totally immersed in the job. Giving it 110%.

Or more likely my memory is getting so fuzzy that I just forget to do it (i.e.: paint chips)

Just as soon as this school year ends, it will be time to start the next one.

At this stage of my career, I am not a counter. My life is passing fast enough… kind of like the huge bowl of chip dip intended for a staff luncheon that is gone by 9:30 in the lounge. (I can’t make this stuff up.)

No need in wishing my life away.

Plus, if I really need to know how many days are left, I can just walk down the hall.

We have had our new dog for a little more than a week. Actually, truth be told, I am pretty sure I am now living in Buddy’s house (I am actually supposed to address him as Mr. Buddy… so I am glad he isn.t much of a blog reader).

His standard of living is quite remarkable for a year and a half old unemployed Beagle.

He has been a relatively gracious host so far. More impressive is how fast he has risen to the top of the family pecking order.

It took me years of stalking to win over my wife.

Buddy shows up and in 2 minutes she is smooching on him. I don’t want to get into the sordid details of my first kiss with her, but it didn’t come in 2 minutes.

It seems like he has been part of our family for much longer than a few days. Maybe that’s because I have to get up at 5:00 am to walk him.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not complaining. Soon I will be in the best shape of my life thanks to dragging this dog around town for approximately 18 miles a day.

For the most part he has been the perfect pet. He barks about once every 2 days. He doesn’t like human food. He won’t jump on the furniture. And he walks over to the door that goes to the garage around 9:30 every night as a clear indication that he is ready for bed in his crate.

The aforementioned makes him a better housemate than my daughter. You have to force her to bed. Often times by using some sort of wrestling maneuver or headlock to drag her dead weight body towards the bedroom.

The kicking and screaming almost wakes the dog up. Notice I said almost. Buddy can literally be walking along and pass out. He is asleep before his head hits his brand new L.L. Bean bed with his name stitched on it (in his favorite color I am told).

She thinks 9:30 is way too early to go to bed. Actually, she thinks 2:00 am is too early. I have already suggested that she stay away from the early morning classes in college.

Of course, she doesn’t get up at 5 to walk her dog, so what does she care about going to bed early.

I have run into one small problem when I walk him. He won’t “turn in his homework.”

Not page #1 or page #2.

I walked him 4 miles once and he wouldn’t squat on a bet.

Originally, I thought the dog had some sort of gift.

Or 2 bladders.

Turns out neither is true.

After spending 3 days thinking about this riddle wrapped up in an enigma, I finally came to a conclusion.

He is a show dog. Actually former show dog.

They say he got kicked out of the ring because he got too big. If you ask me that is code for “dogroids”, but as always I’m not here to judge.

Although it would explain his mood swings and the ability to exercise for hours on end. Not to mention the fact that he has two shrunken… well, you get the point (if you don’t, email me).

This could be from his surgery, but who really knows in this day and age.

Training a dog can be a challenge. Untraining one is even harder.

It reminds me of teachers and staff members (the PrincipalsPage.com legal department wants it noted that I am in no way comparing teachers to dogs… or vice versa as I don’t want to insult either group).

We all have a tendency to get stuck in our ways. I include myself in this group.

Part of this training should be teaching new staff members that flexibility is the key to success.

As a teacher, administrator, janitor, or secretary who works with students, we have to be willing to adjust throughout our careers.

Each new group of students (every 4 years or so) has different needs and ways of learning. We can’t expect them to respond to our methods that we may have first learned during student teaching 20 years ago.

We can’t always fight change. We have to seek it out and embrace it.

Sure it makes us nervous. And it makes our belly hurt (especially Buddy’s). And it makes it hard to get comfortable for a nap (Buddy and I).

If someone shows us a better way, our students deserve the opportunity to learn under a new progressive system that better fits their style of learning.

Sooner or later, we are all asked to try new methods. Instead of fighting it, maybe we should just “turn in our homework” the first time.

It might just help kids.

And it might save me 18 miles of walking a dog (I really wish Buddy… I mean Mr. Buddy could read this).

This blog is a continuation of my previous attempts to convince school administrators to use technology.

All of the following could be considered part of my overall master plan to convince the masses about the importance of technology. Or it could be a desperate plea that will likely fall on deaf ears. Only time will tell.

Best case, administrators from all over the country are mesmerized by the genius of my blogs and start using technology at a record pace.

Worst case, I continue writing (I just cracked myself up…. this can hardly be considered “writing”… more like incoherent babbling) about technology so often that administrators start using more technology in the hope I will just shut up.

Either way, I figure it is a win-win for students. And it keeps me off the streets.

A couple weeks ago (that is how far I am behind), I was reading an internet article about 10 Technologies About to Go Extinct.

The article was about how technology sensations eventually get overtaken by new faster, better, sleeker technologies.

Their list (Foxnews.com… which as always is Fair and Balanced… there I go… cracked myself up again):

1. Landline phones

2. Floppy disks

3. Wristwatches

4. VHS Tape and VCRs

5. Beepers

6. Film Cameras

7. Typewriters

8. The Walkman

9. Dial-up Internet

10. DVDs

After reading this, I once again realized I could be getting old. I can remember all of these items. Worse yet, I still have some of them.

The rundown:

1. I still have a landline phone. Hopefully Google Voice will help me pull the trigger on getting rid of this. It’s time.

2. I have to admit…haven’t seen a floppy disk in years. I’m not even a fan of flash drives. Thank you Google docs.

3. Wristwatches. Love them. I would be a collector if I made more money. They will have to pry one off my cold dead wrist before I give it up. Although, I never look at it. I do have a clock on my laptop and cell phone after all.

4. VHS Tape and VCRs. Still have them and they are drawing dust. The DVR is the world’s greatest invention. Up to now.

6. Film Cameras. I have noticed I’m a much better photographer with a digital camera.

7. My first opportunity at a real career, typewriter repairman. Loved typing class in high school. Don’t miss the whiteout.

8. The Walkman was cool. I don’t care what anyone says. And so was my Flock of Seagulls cassette tape.

9. I hated Dial-up Internet. Even when it was brand new and cutting edge, we knew it was slow. What kind of technology is that?

10. DVD’s. Never understood this. Who has time to watch movies? And who buys the movie and watches it more than once?

I think there is a lesson to be learned in almost every situation and this is no different.

From this list it is painfully obvious that technology always advances. If something better hasn’t come along, it is on its way.

How do we take this lesson and apply it to schools?

Educators are going through a phase where we are teaching (in some cases forcing) staff members to learn about email, Google docs, SmartBoards, Moviemaker, YouTube and other assorted technology programs.

This is wonderful, but I think we need to look at a much bigger picture.

We can’t just teach teachers how to use specific programs and then walk away. Those technologies are going to change. It might be in 5 years, or a year, or in 10 minutes, but they are going to become obsolete.

Everything does.

As administrators, IT people, and technology trainers, we have to get our teachers comfortable with technology. Not just learning certain steps to create a project or use a computer program.

Could someone please tell me what’s going on with colleges and universities? But please, not too many details, I may want to send my daughter there one day (although I am anticipating her attending some sort of truck driving school).

My concern is who is guiding our teachers of the future?

Who is showing them the ins and outs of what it takes to be an educator?

How can these schools be handing out diplomas and yet not talking about something that may be keeping their graduates from getting hired.

Email addresses. Sounds simple. In theory.

It makes me wonder if I should be worried about these institutions of higher education. Are their standards high enough?

I should have known something was up when they gave me a diploma. Or three (by the way, that was before email… and indoor plumbing).

Professors of Education spend months teaching their students about lesson plans, yet they don’t have five seconds to share advice on the proper selection of an email address.

How can people spend 4 years in college (or 5, 6, or 7… and if you have been in college longer, I hope they call you Dr.) and then send out an application letter (or preferably email) with something so heinous and inappropriate on it.

I was under the impression that signing up for an email address was simple. I thought Gmail and Hotmail were giving them away like candy. The kids these days, with their knowledge of technology should be able to handle this.

Evidently, I must be wrong.

A candidate mails (or again… preferably emails) a resume. The interviewee looks it over. Everything is in order. GPA looks impressive. References are excellent. Degree is perfect for the open position.

And there it is.

The cool guy/cool girl email address.

The address that was so very funny only days before. Funny to the person who thought of it. Funny when the person wasn’t completely sober.

Buddy the Dog is now living in our house. Or I am now living in Buddy’s house. I can’t decide which one is true (that is a lie… I know exactly which one it is).

It is now Buddy’s house. For the next 15 years, I am living under his roof by his rules.

Don’t worry, I am flexible and will adjust.

I will just do what Bud wants and try to keep my nose clean.

Meanwhile he seems to be adjusting to his new home.

He worked in a good hour nap in the truck on the way home. It took him about 8 seconds before he settled in for a long snooze.

We did wake him up long enough to go in the pet store. Turns out he is a chick magnet. Girls came from all over to slobber on him. Or vice versa.

When we got home he felt comfortable enough to go downstairs (when I carried him) and enjoy some Nickelodeon on our big screen TV. Turns out the Mancave is
now Bud’s Room.

It has now been almost 24 hours of listening to my daughter giggle at his every move.

I have a feeling this is what it will be like when she first starts dating. Lots of fawning, waiting on him hand and foot, laughing all the time, letting him watch my TV, thinking he can do no wrong… not sure I am looking forward to any of this.

Well I have at least 8 years to dread that.

Presently, I have other troubles.

Buddy the Dog has won the lottery. He has left the show ring for the life of luxury. Doesn’t seem to miss the kennel in the least.

He has won and I have the feeling I may have lost.

I feel like I need to win a lottery to pay for all of his toys, crates, collars, leashes, food, treats, and beds.

The problem is they have forgotten summer lasts about 7 seconds. Then it is over (although the good news is… there is a summer break every year).

Junior high boys are jumpy. Although this type of behavior is not all that unusual, it does drive adults even crazier come springtime.

On top of this there is a stench in the air (and hallways). While not recognizable to younger staff members, I immediately know what it is when I see/smell it.

Love.

It’s everywhere in the spring.

And it seldom ends well… for the boys. But like most lessons in life, sometimes you have to learn the hard way. Good luck gentlemen. You are going to need it.

In about 3 weeks.

High School baseball has started. Which means it is going to rain. Almost every day.

It doesn’t rain so much on days when the team has practice, but there is a 97% chance on game days.

The tulips came up in my yard. Then it snowed on them. It’s definitely spring.

My lawn went from brown and dead to green and 8 inches tall… in less than 24 hours. And lucky for me, I have no time to mow during this time of year.

While good for me, it’s bad for the neighbors. But technically this is their fault.

They should have known the risk they were taking when they moved in next door to a school administrator (also, they shouldn’t blame me when toilet paper blows off my trees and into their yard at Halloween).

I will mow my yard consistently after graduation. In May. Unless I am too tired.

I know it is spring when the countdown starts.

There is at least one teacher in every school who has the official end of the year countdown. They can tell you exactly how many days, hours, minutes, and seconds until school is out for the summer.

These teachers are more than willing to share this information with everyone they come into contact. Starting on about January 2.

You know it’s spring when on the nights you have meetings after school, it is 75 degrees and sunny outside.

And the nights you don’t have meetings, it is 37 degrees and windy.

Spring means I have moved my golf clubs from the garage to my truck.

This act doesn’t mean I have time to actually use them, but I am getting prepared for June (after I mow my yard… after graduation… no matter if I’m tired or not).

I am not here to judge, but who was on the negotiating committee for these teachers?

Rules for Teachers – 1915

1. You will not marry during the term of your contract.

2. You are not to keep company with men.

3. You must be home between the hours of 8 pm and 6 am unless at a school function.

4. You may not loiter downtown in any of the ice cream stores.

5. You may not travel beyond the city limits unless you have permission of the chairman of the school board.

6. You may not ride in carriages or automobiles with any man except your father or brother.

7. You may not smoke cigarettes.

8. You may not dress in bright colors.

9. You may under no circumstances dye your hair.

10. You must wear at least 2 petticoats.

11. Your dresses may not be any shorter than 2 inches above the ankles.

12. To keep the classroom neat and clean you must sweep the floor once a day, scrub the floor with hot soapy water once a week, clean the blackboards once a day and start the fire at 7 am to have the school warm by 8 am when the scholars arrive.

School Rules – 1872

1. Will fill lamps, trim wicks and clean chimneys.

2. Each morning teacher will bring bucket of water and a scuttle of coal for the day’s session.

3. Make your pens carefully. You may whittle nibs to the individual taste of the pupils.

4. Men teachers may take one evening each week for courting purposes or two evenings a week if they attend church regularly.

5. After 10 hours in school the teachers may spend the remaining time reading the Bible or any other good book.

6. Women teachers who marry or engage in unseemly conduct will be dismissed.

7. Every teacher should lay aside for each pay day a godly sum of his earnings for his benefit during his declining years so that he will not become a burden on society.

8. Any teacher who smokes, uses liquor in any form, frequents pool or public halls, or gets shaved in a barber shop will give good reason to suspect his worth, intention, integrity, and honesty.

9. The teacher who performs his labor faithfully and without fault for five years will be given an increase of $.25 per week in his pay providing the Board of Education approves.

Sources

The sources for these “rules” are unknown; thus we cannot attest to their authenticity… only to their verisimilitude and charming quaintness.

They have been used for years by the New Hampshire Historical Society Museum as part of its Going to School outreach lesson, but they also appear independently on numerous other websites from Auckland to England.

The rules from 1872 have been variously attributed to an 1872 posting in Monroe County, Iowa; to a one-room school in a small town in Maine; and to an unspecified Arizona schoolhouse.

The 1915 rules are attributed to a Sacramento teachers’s contract and elsewhere to an unspecified 1915 magazine.

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While this site operates with the knowledge and awareness of the Tuscola CUSD #301 School Board, Tuscola, Illinois, the content and opinions posted here may or may not represent their views personally or collectively, nor does it attempt to represent the official viewpoint of Tuscola CUSD #301 administrators or employees.